Childeye
“I can agree with that although I don't understand why one after being revealed the Truth would ever go back to a lie.â€
We’re only human. If what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3 is true, there’s lots of Christians who are in Christ in spite of themselves. They make an initially right decision to believe God, then follow men instead of God and thus walk like men. Doesn’t mean they aren’t in Christ. Just means they aren’t walking by the Spirit. Or are they like these?
2Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
If so, since Christianity is primarily composed of those who follow men more than God, the existence of those who are in Christ could possiblyl be a myth. But being one who still thinks that he is one who is in Christ, I choose to believe in that which may be simply a myth is not a myth. Doesn’t make it experientially true to anyone except me. But so long as I still believe it, I must proclaim its existence. And I must accept others who believe they are in Christ no matter what their doctrinal thinking may be at the moment.
“Regardless, that person who would do such a thing will be a slave to that lie and not free in his will, for scripture says that if you reject the Truth after coming into knowledge of it you cannot come back.â€
I use that very argument against those who think we can lose our salvation. I assume you’re referring to passages such as these:
1 Corinthians 6:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Hebrews 6:
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 10:
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Jude
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Used by those who think we can lose our salvation or never quite attain to it. Who think that all it takes is one mistake, and it’s all over. Some of whom actually think that one can return from such a state of non-salvation through confession, rather than Baptism.
We don’t have to worry about coming back, or any hope of ever being reconciled with God. We’re out of the game. There is no more sacrifice for such people. Because he “hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of graceâ€. So we may as well eat, drink, and be merry. For we’ll be in hell soon enough. And I use the pronoun “we†because I would have to acknowledge that I am one of them, having been guilty of that very thing more than once. Savedbygrace57 would have me believe I wasn’t saved in the first place, and have no hope of ever being saved. And his evidence is my belief in what he calls “the Freewill Religionâ€. Because some of us are created to be on the wrong side of the Law. It’s part of this game that God has going. Has nothing to do with us really, so “no offense buddyâ€, says God. “No one knows what it’s like to be the bad manâ€. Especially God, from the perspective of Savedbygrace57.
If after trusting in God to help me get to the right place, I still end up in the wrong place, I’d have every right to curse God. Not that it would have any meaning if God isn’t there to hear it. Not that it would make him suffer or feel badly even if he was there and heard. He’s the sovereign God after all, and can do whatever he likes. Even create us to curse God and all he stands for. If that’s God, he’s quite insane, and I don’t want any part of him. Now or after death. An eternal existence outside of his presence would be heaven.
Never is the context of these verses understood by those who interpret them. There is no context as far as they’re concerned. They’re just part of a string of verses that prove a point to their own satisfaction. Some can’t accept the Bible as it is. They can’t understand what it clearly says on its own. But they think they understand what Peter says,
2 Peter 3
15 ....as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
They then educate themselves in the ways of interpretation and apply it to the Bible so as to not be numbered among those who are “unlearned and unstableâ€. Becoming steadfast in their learned state, relying on the stability of their own educated minds, that ever learns the intricacies of denominational thinking, created by themselves or others, thinking that now they know the truth. But they still haven’t accepted the Bible as it is, and are never able to see the truth that is in a Bible they can’t accept.
They even create their own version of salvation achieved through their own faith or their own faith and works. Instead of acknowledging the salvation provided by God through the faith of Christ.
Thank God that when our biases and interpretations would send us to hell, God in his love and mercy, through all his Son has accomplished on behalf of humanity, strives to keep us with him. God can’t be blamed if we are determined not to accept what he has so graciously provided. Whether it be the revelation contained in the Bible, the written word of God, revealed clearly through the teaching of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Or the salvation that God has provided in Jesus Christ. Once revealed, only we can be blamed for that. Should we emphasize what we see as universal ignorance and say none should be faulted, nor condemned? When God emphasizes what he sees as a terminal genetic illness that already exists in mankind through Adam resulting in them already being condemned to an existence beyond everything in reality or even to not exist at all? When God emphasizes that he provides the medicine of immortality against that genetic illness?
Those who are in Christ are in the Body of Christ. If there is anyone who hasn’t been offered the medicine of immortality, it isn’t God’s fault. It’s the fault of those who are in Christ to whom the medicine has been given to disseminate. Such a dissemination is an obvious work that God has given those who are in Christ to walk in. A work given to those who are truly in the Body of Christ. That Body in which is the unity of Divine Life and Spirit, that is at odds with the human life and denominational thinking of a human organizational body that calls itself Christianity. The medicine of immortality is for the adherents of the man-made religion that calls itself Christianity, as much as for the adherents of any other man-made religion or philosophy.
All references from the KJV.
FC
. Do you know what PRESUMPTIOUS SINS ARE?? And do you know what the GREAT TRANSGRESSION is??